Door and frame assembly



May 17, 1966 A. zlToMER 3,251,156

DOOR AND FRAME ASSEMBLY Filed oct. 24, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Maxl?, 1966A, ZITQMER 3,251,156

DOOR AND FRAME ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 24, 1963 .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 if il I AINVENTOR. i HZ@ 272%77767.

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May 17, 1966 A. ZITOMER 3,251,156

DOOR AND FRAME ASSEMBLY Filed oct. 24, 1963 3 SheetS-Sheet 3 INVENTOR-Z@ 722707776 7'.

United States Patent Oliice 3,251,156 Patented May 17, 1966 Thisapplication is a continuation-impart of my prior copending applicationSerial No. 276,899, led April 30, 1963, for Door and Frame Con-structionfor Combina-tion Door, rio-w abandoned.

This invention relates to door and door frame assem-blies of the prehungtype and has particular reference to certain new and useful improvementsin the construction thereof wherein the hinging is such that the doormay be hung on either -side when the assembly is being installed.Because of this it is not necessary to make or stock right-and left-handdoors as such, whereby the inventory of doors required to be stocked bythe manufacturer and the dealer need be but half of that conventionallyrequired.

A principal object of the invention therefore is to provide a new andimproved door and frame assembly for combination doors.

rAnother object of the invention is to provide a door and frame assemblyfor combination doors whereby the door when installed may be readilyhung on either side and whereby the door and frame may be sold as apackage ready for installation by a home owner.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and claims and may be understood by reference tothe accompanying drawings, of which there are three sheets, which by wayof illustration Ishow preferred embodiments of the invention and what Inow Consider to be the best mode of applying the principles thereof.Other embodiments of the invention may tbe used without departing fromthe scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended' claims.

In the drawings: l

FIG. l is a perspective view of a door and frame construction embodyingthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a similar view of the construction, showing the door hung fromits other side-edge;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line3-3 of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical 'sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken `along the Iline 5--5 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 6-6of FIG. l;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along the line 7--7 of FIG.2; y

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the hinge included in the circleF of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view through the door and door frameand illustrating the manner in which such parts are interlocked to forma shipping package;

FIG. 10 is la view similar -to FIG. l, illustrating a modified form ofthe invention;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIG.10;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 11; and

FIGS. 13 and 14 are sectional views illustrating modiiied forms of frameconstruction.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7, the door and door frameassembly in general comprises a U-shaped frame 10 dening the sides andtop of a door opening and a door or closure 12, the door frame 10 anddoor 12 being provided with integral hinge Imembers to provide a hinge14 for swingingly supporting the door on one edge as shown in FIGS. 1and 3, and with hinge members on the other edgeof the door to form ahinge 16 for swingingly supporting the door on its other edge as Vshownin FIGS. 2 and 7, whereby the door 12 may be hinged at either edge. Theassembly is shipped with the door hinged at one edge. However, when theassembly is installed, the door may be readily hung so that it is hingedat either edge.

The door frame 10 preferably is formed of side frame members 18 and 211and top frame member 22 which define the sides and top of a dooropening. The members 18, 211 and 22 are preferably Z-bars formed byaluminum extrusions, the crossframe member 22 being suitably secured tothe upper ends of the side frame members 18 and 20 so as to define aU-shaped frame. The side frame member 18 is provided with an integralvertical rib 24, and the side frame member 20 is provided with anintegral vertical rib 26, such ribs 24 and 26 being disposed laterallyof the door opening and co-extensive with the height of the side framemembers 18 and 20. The ribs 24 and 26 project outwardly of the dooropening.

The door for closing the opening is also provided along each verticalside edge with vertical ribs 23 and 30 which are substantiallyco-extensive with the vertical height of the door. The vertical ribs 28and 30 project outwardly of the door and are parallel to each other andto the ribs 24 and 26 on the frame members. The interengaged ribs 26'and 30 shown in FIG. 3 cooperate to form the hinge 14, while the ribs24 and 28 on the other side of `the door and door frame cooperate asshown in FIG. 7 to lform the hinge 16. However, the ribs 24- and 26 onthe door fra-me members 18 and 20 are spaced apart a greater distancethan the ribs28 and 30 on the door so that when the hinge members on theone edge of the door and the adjacent edge of the frame are operativelyassembled to forni the hinge 14 as shown in FIG. 3, the rib 28 on theother edge of the door will seat on the door frame 18 inwardly of therib 24 thereon when the door is closed as shown in FIG. 3. i

As shown, the ends of the ribs 24, 26, 28 and 30 are curved in Vcrosssection with the door frame ribs 24 and 26 curled about a larger radiusand to a substantially greater extent than the door ribs 28 and 30 sothat when the ribs 26 and 30 are intererlgaged to form the hinge 14, thehinge members will interlock in all positions of the door from closed toabout open. FIG. 8 `shows the ribs 24 and 28 interlocked to provide thehinge 16, and shows that when the door is open to a 90 position the bead29 forming the edge of the rib 28 will not `clear the bead 25 formingthe -free edge of the rib 24. It will be evident, however, that byopening the door to an open position slightly greater than 90 open, thecurled edge of the ribV 28 will clear the tbead 25 on the curled edge ofthe rib 24 Iand permit the disassembly of the hinge 16 lby moving thedoor 12 in a direction across the door opening. From the foregoing itwill be evident that the door 12 and the frame 10 are made s-o that thedoor 12 may be hung on either of its side edges simply by engaging theribs 26 and 30 to form the hinge 14, or the ribs 24 and 28 to form the`hinge 16.

It will be further evident that the rib on the free edge of the door,such as the rib 28 in FIG. 3, will iit within the adjacent rib 24 on thedoor frame and seat on the door frame as illustrated in FIG. 3. Sincethe rib 24 thus overlaps the rib 28, it will shield the same andcooperate therewith to provide an air seal at the outer edge of the doorwhich will be in addition to the seal provided between the inner face 32of the door and the sealing strip 34 carried by the ange 35 of the framemember 18. The ange 3S is adapted to seat against the stop 36 of theWooden door frame to which the side frame members 18, and 22 are securedby screws. member 22 at the top of the door opening includes a rib 38which overhangs the upper edge of the door in its closed position, asshown in FIG. 6.

The ilower ends of the ribs 28 and 30 are cut off a short distance abovethe bottom edge of the door, as shown in FIG. 4, and rest upon a nylonbearing member or wear plate 40 carried by a plug 42 which has a shapeto -ft within the rib 26 on the door frame member 20 whereby the weightof the door is taken by the bearing member 40. Preferably the bearingmember 40 is made of nylon so as to provide a surface upon which thelower end of the rib will freely slide. The lower end of the door isprovided by an adjustable channel-shaped bar 44 which telescopes overthe lower frame member 46 of the door as shown in FIG. 6. The bar 44carries a gasket 48 which cooperates with the door sill 50 to close thegap between the bottom edge of the door and the sill 50. The bar 44 isadjustable on the frame member 46, and after being adjusted to thedesired position is secured by means of one or more screws, such as 52.The bar 44 before being fastened by the screws 52 is adjusted crosswiseof the door so as to clear the interlocking ribs which form the hinge onwhich the door is hung and to overlap the plug 42 and the wear plate 40on the free side of the door.

Looking at FIG. 8, it will be noted that the rib 28 and the flange 33ride on the inner surface of the rib 24 and the forward face of the doorframe member 13. This arrangement avoids the necessity for closetolerances on the dimensions of the ribs and the beads 25 and 29 andmakes it possible to provide a hinge which is relatively free ofbinding, which might otherwise occur. Since the ribs 28 and 24 and thecorresponding ribs on the other side extend substantially the fulllength of the door opening, the wear and the load on the interengageablehinge surfaces is distributed over a large area. In addition, this typeof hinge construction completely eliminates gaps on the hinge side ofthe door through which insects or air can pass so that the door iseffectively sealed to the door frame on its hinged side throughoutsubstantially the entire height thereof. The nesting arrangement of thedoor frame and door ribs on the free side of the door edge also providesan effective wind and insect seal along the free edge of the door.

In order to make the hinge member on the hinge side of the door ride onthe inside surface of the hinged member on the door frame, asillustrated in FIG. 8, and to vprevent accidental separation of thehinge members,

means are provided which bias the door to its closed position and limitthe degree of opening movement thereof. Such means may comprise a springdoor closer and check 60 as illustrtaed in FIG. 3 which is hinged at 62to a bracket 64 which is adjustably secured on a channelshaped frame 66carried by the door. The piston rod 68 of the door closer 60 is pivotedat 70 to a bracket 72 which is mounted on the door stop 36. The doorcloser 60 biases the door 12 to its closed position and biases the hingemember 28 on the door as shown in FIG. 8 so as to engage the innersurface of the hinge member on the door frame. The door closer or check60 limits the opening movement of the door to about 90 open so as toprevent the accidental separation of the hinge members.

The door frame construction illustrated is-preferably made up of anumber of lengths of Z-bar aluminum extrusions which are assembled toform a U-shaped frame. Except for the ribs along the side edges of thedoor, the door is preferably constructed of hollow aluminum ex- Thecross frame y trusions, and the ribs 28 and 30 preferably are madeintegrally with the frame members which form the sides of the door.Holes 82 are provided on each side of the door so that a door handle maybe readily attached on the appropriate side of the door.

The door and frame are packaged and shipped as a unit with the doorhinged onto one side of the frame and held in a closed position in theframe by the use of three protective clamps 80. The clamps are mountedon frame 18 by means of screw 86. As shown in FIG. 9, middle clamp islocated so as to cover door handle hole 82. A plastic plug 84 is forcedthrough a hole in the clamp and through hole 82 to additionally securethis clamp. The upper and lower clamps 80 are secured by means of screws86 alone. The clamps fit closely around the door frame and door memberand between ribs 24 and 28 to hold`the door against sealing strip 34 andthe engaged rib 26 to prevent movement of the door in the frame.

In the modifications illustrated in FIGURES 10 to 14, inclusive, theconstruction of the door and frame assembly is in many respects the sameas that of FIGURES 1 to 8. However, the modifications of FIGURES 10 to14 include in addition to the construction described in FIGURES 1 to 8one or more retainers 100* mounted on the frame member 20 and positionedin the path of movement of the hinge member 130 on Ithe door so as to beengaged by the latter when the door is swung to its open position andform a stop. As shown in FIGURES 10, 11 and 12, the retainer comprises aseries of angular members formed of a suitable material such, forexample', as nylon, each of the members being secured to the framemember 20 by a screw 102. One leg 101 of the member 100 is positionedagainst the outer surface of the frame 20 adjacent the inner cornerthereof and thus serves to reduce the gap or clearance between such partof the frame and the curled-over end 10S of the hinge member 126 whichis integral with the frame 20. In this position the member 100 isengageable with the hinge member 130 as illustrated in FIGURE 11 so asto form a stop for limiting the opening movement of the door and at thesame time preventing separation of the hinge members 126 and 130. Theretainer 100l also functions as a bearing plate upon which the edge ofthe door hinge member freely slides and rides. The retainer 100 alsocompensates to some extent for variations in the size and shape of thehinge members 126 and 130. The hinge members and the parts integraltherewith are preferably formed as aluminum extrusions, and it is notuncommon to encounter a certain amount of warpage and distortion inparts so formed. By using the retainers 100, it is possible to form thehinge members somewhat less critically and at the same time Iprovide ahinge which can be easily assembled and disassembled and which willoperate freely without binding. It will be evident that in the case ofthe construction illustrated in FIGURES 10, 11 and l2 the retainer 100is installed after the hinge members have been assembled. The retainersare required, of course, only on the hinge side of the door opening. Inlieu of using the nylon retainer 100, I may employ spring retainers suchas the retainer 200 illustrated in FIGURE 14 or the retainer 300illustrated in FIGURE 13. The spring retainers 200` and 300 preferablyare formed of stainless steel. The retainer 200 includes an exposedspring arm 202 which cooperates with the hinge member 130 so as to beengaged by the latter and form a resilient stop therefor. In theretainer 300 illustrated in FIGURE 13, the end 302 is folded inwardly soas to react on the frame member 20. The retainers 200` and 300 functionsimilarly and, when the door is only partly open, will exert a springaction tending to bias the door to its closed position. I contemplatethat in assemblies constructed in accordance with FIG- URES l0 to 14 adoor closure and check like that iltical side frame members each havinga vertical rib projecting outwardly of said door opening, a door forclosing said opening, each vertical side edge of said door having anintegral vertical rib projecting outwardly of said door, said verticalribs on said door frame being parallel to said ribs on said door, eachof said ribs on said door forming a hinge member and each of the ribs onsaid door frame forming a hinge member so that the hinge member on eachside of said door is operable when operatively assembled with theadjacent hinge member on said door frame to provide a mounting for saiddoor on said frame, said ribs on said door frame being spaced apart agreater distance than said ribs on said door, said hinge members whenengaged to form a hinge interlocking in all positions of the door fromclosed to open position thereof, said door being provided with handleand lock mounting holes adjacent each side edge thereof.

2. A door and frame assembly comprising a U-shaped frame defining thesides of a door opening and including vertical side frame members eachhaving an integral vertical rib disposed laterally of said door openingand projecting outwardly of said door opening, a door for closing saidopening, each vertical side edge of said door having an integralvertical rib projecting outwardly of said door, said vertical ribs onsaid door frame being parallel to said ribs on said door, each of saidribs on said door forming a hinge member and each of the ribs on saiddoor frame forming a hinge member so that the hinge member on each sideof said door is operable when operatively assembled with the adjacenthinge member on said door frame to provide a hinge mounting for saiddoor on said frame, said ribs on said door frame being spaced apart agreater distance than said ribs on said door, means forming part of thehinge mounting of the door frame and cooperable with the hinge member onthe doorfor supporting the latter for hingin'g movement between its openand closed positions, said hinge members when engaged to form a hingeinterlocking in all positions of the door from closed to open position.

3. A door and frame assembly according to claim 2 including a retaineron the door frame positioned to cooperate with the hinge member on thedoor to prevent separation thereof from the hinge member on the doorframe.

4. A door and frame assembly comprising a U-shaped frame defining thesides of a door opening and including vertical side frame members eachhaving a vertical rib disposed laterally of said door opening andprojecting outwardly of said door opening, a door for closing saidopening, each vertical side edge of said door having a vertical ribprojecting outwardly of said door, said vertical ribs on said door framebeing parallel to said ribs on said door, each of said ribs on said doorforming a hinge member and each of the ribs on said door frame forming ahinge member so that the hinge member on each side of said door isoperable when operatively assembled with the adjacent hinge member onsaid door frame to provide a hinge mounting for said door on said frame,said ribs on said door frame being spaced apart a greater distance thansaid ribs'on said door so that when the hinge member on one edge of thedoor is operatively assembled with the adjacent hinge member on .thedoor frame so as to thereby hingedly mount the door on said frame, therib on the other edge of said door when the latter is closed will `seaton the door frame inwardly of the other rib thereon, a bearing membermounted on the door frame rib forming part of the hinge mounting of thedoor so as to support the latter for hinging movement between its openand closed positions, said hinge members when engaged to form a hingeinterlocking in all positions of the door from closed to open position.i

5. A door and frame assembly comprising a U-shaped frame defining thesides and top of a door opening and including vertical side framemembers each having a vertical rib disposed laterally of said dooropening and coextensive with the height thereof and projecting outwardlyof said door opening, a door for closing said opening, each verticalside edge of said door having a vertical rib substantially coextensivewith the height of said door, said vertical ribs on said door projectingoutwardly of said door, said vertical ribs on said door frame beingparallel to said ribs on said door, each of said ribs on said doorforming a hinge member and each of the ribs on said door frame forming ahinge member so that the hinge member on each side of said door isoperable when operatively assembled with the adjacent hinge member onsaid door frame to provide a hinge mounting for said door on said frame,said ribs on said door frame being spaced apart a greater distance thansaid ribs on said door so that when the hinge member on one edge of thedoor is operatively assembled with the adjacent hinge member on the doorframe so as to thereby hingedly mount the door on said frame, the rib onthe other edge of said door when the latter is closed will seat on thedoor frame inwardly of the other rib thereon, a bearing member mountedon the door frame rib forming part of the hinge mounting of the door soas to underlie the cooperable hinge member on the door for supportingthe latter for hinging movement between its open open and closedpositions, the ends of said ribs being curved in cross section with thedoor frame rib ends curled about a larger radius and to a substantiallygreater extent than the door ribs so when said ribs are engaged to forma hinge, the hinge member will interlock in all positions of the doorfrom closed to about open but may be separated beyond such openposition, and means limiting the degree of opening of said door so as toprevent accidental separation of the hinge members.

6. A door and frame assembly according to claim 5. wherein said limitingmeans comprises a door closer which biases said door to its closedposition.

7. A door and frame assembly according to claim 5 wherein said limitingmeans comprises a retainer on one of said hinge members which ispositioned in the path of movement of the other hinge member so as to beengaged by the latter and form a stop therefor.

8. A door and frame assembly according to claim 5 wherein said limitingmeans comprises a retainer spring on one of said hinge members which ispositioned in the path of movement of the other hinge member so as to beengaged by the latter and form a resilient stop therefor.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,321,118 6/1943Zechiel 189--46 X 2,808,625 10/1957 Wilkinson 20-16 3,024,501 3/1962McPhail 20-16 FOREIGN PATENTS 609,395 11/1960 Canada.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

K. DOWNEY, Assistant Examiner.

1. A DOOR AND FRAME ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A FRAME DEFINING THE SIDES OF ADOOR OPENING AND INCLUDING VERTICAL SIDE FRAME MEMBERS EACH HAVING AVERTICAL RIB PROJECTING OUTWARDLY OF SAID DOOR OPENING, A DOOR FORCLOSING SAID OPENING, EACH VERTICAL SIDE EDGE OF SAID DOOR HAVING ANINTEGRAL VERTICAL RIBS PROJECTING OUTWARDLY OF SAID DOOR, SAID VERTICALRIBS ON SAID DOOR FRAME BEING PARALLEL TO SAID RIBS ON SAID DOOR, EACHOF SAID RIBS ON SAID DOOR FORMING A HINGE MEMBER AND EACH OF THE RIBS ONSAID DOOR FRAME FORMING A HINGE MEMBER SO THAT THE HINGE MEMBER ON EACHSIDE OF SAID DOOR ISOPERABLE WHEN OPERATIVELY ASSEMBLED WITH THEADJACENT HINGE MEMBER ON SAID DOOR FRAME TO PROVIDE A MOUNTING FOR SAIDDOOR ON SAID FRAME, SAID RIBS ON SAID DOOR FRAME BEING SPACED APART AGREATER DISTANCE THAN SAID RIBS ON SAID DOOR, SAID HINGE MEMBERS WHENENGAGED TO FORM A HINGE INTERLOCKING IN ALL POSITIONS OF THE DOOR FROMCLOSED TO OPEN POSITION THEREOF, SAID DOOR BEING PROVIDED WITH HANDLEAND LOCK MOUNTING HOLES ADJACENT EACH SIDE EDGE THEREOF.